field



c. FIELD. I UNSHEATHING AND PULVERIZING MACHINE.

APPLICATION HLED NOV. 14, 1918- 1,346, 1 1 9. P ent d July 13, 1920.

INVENTO 603%] 7a A Tram/Er C. FIELD. UNSHEATHING AND PULVERIZING MACHINE.

- APPLICATION FILED NOV. I4 I918. 1,346, 1 1 9. Patented July 13, 1920 3 SHEETSSHEET2.

ATTOHNE Y C. FIELD.

UNSHEATHlNG AND PULVERIZING MACHINE.

APPLICATION man NOV. :4, 1918.

'1 34:6, 1 1 9. P ented J nly 13, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

m Mm

l I v H 1N VE NTOR Gws, EH27 ATTOHNEY UNITED srAras PALIENT OFFICE.

CROSBY FIELD, 0]? WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

UNSHEATHING AND PULVERIZING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 13, 1920.

Application filed November 14, 1918. Serial No. 262,425.

To all whom, it may concern Be it known that I, Cnosnr FIELD, a c1tizcn of the United States and a resident of lVashington, in the District of Columbia,

have invented certain .new and useful Im-.

' thereupon the material may be pulverized.

it is also proposed to provide improved means of disposing of the dust created during the pulverizing, in such manner as to protect the moving parts therefrom, to the end the machine is facilitated and the same will remain in ei'licientworking order for a relatively long period. The machine is designed to operate automatically, so that a single unskilled attendant is all that is necessary, and under certain condltions even this operative may be dispensed with. Whth these and other objects in view an embodiment of my invention is shown in the accompanying drawings and this embodiment will be more fully described with reference thereto and the invention will be finally pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the machine;

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse sectlonal view taken along the line 2- o'l Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an elevation of the feeding mechanism by means of which the drumsto be treated are supplied to the machine;

Fig. a is a transverse sectional view taken along the line d-l of Fig. 1; I

Figs. 4:- to 4 show diagrammatically and in perspective the manner in which the sheath is cut;

Fig. 5 shows diagrammatically and in end view the manner in which the sheath is removed from the drum;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the mechanism for controlling the movement of the sheath during the cutting of the sheath and the removal thereof;

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view showing that lubrication of the respective positions and the movement of the drum or material to be treated.

bimilar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

Before describing the machine, I will ret'er for a moment to Figs. 4 to 4* and Fig. 5 which illustrate diagrammatically the manner of removing the sheath, and which will demonstrate clearly the method by which I propose to remove the sheath.

The drum is shown in Fig. e inclosed in a metal sheath which is first slit longitudinally as at a. The ends of the drum are thereupon slit transversely as at 7). and b and c and c, the slits 0 connecting at one end with the ends of the longitudinal slit a. The ends of the sheath are thereupon gripped as at (Z, cl at one side of the slit Land the drum is rolled out of the sheath as shown in Fig. 5, the sheath flattening out as the drum is removed therefrom. The drum is carried to a pulverizer or crusher while the sheath is gathered up and may be baled, melted or otherwise disposed of in order to most economically recover the metal for further use.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 to a of the drawings the present embodiment of the invention consists of a crusher 10 having crushing rollers 12 and 12 upon which the unsheathed drum falls, as shown in Fig. 1, a channel 13 being in connection at one end with the said crusher and at the other end with a chute 14, a swinging door 15 normally closing this chute end of the channel.

Intermediately the ends of the channel 13 a trackway 16 extends to an inclined receiving platform 17 from which the sheathed drums are supplied to the machine. A car 18 is mounted upon the trackway 16 and is adapted to be carried back and forth thereon to convey the drums from the platform 17 to the channel 18. The floor of the car is level with the floor of the channel and the receiving platform and is provided with a pair of transverse ledges or cleats 19 and 20 having depressions or recesses 19 or 20 in which the drum is retained the said tracks coming into alinement with tracks 21 and 22 provided in the channel.

The car 18 is propelled by means of a cable 23 extending over the drums 24 and 25, the drum 25 being provided with a suitable adjusting rack and pinion 26. The

wound upon spiral grooves 24" formed therein. Rotation in either direction 1s 1mparted to thedrum 24 from the shaft 29 by means of the beveled gearing 30, a pair of oppositely rotating pulleys 31 and 32 being journaled upon the said shaft, and driven the belts 33 and 34 from the pulley 35 mounted upon the main over-head drive shaft 36 which is driven by the motor 37 or 'other suitable source of power, a drive belt 38 extending over the pulleys 39 and, 40 provided respectively upon the shaft and motor. Upon each of'the pulleys 31 and 32 there are provided electro -magnetic clutches connected to a suitable source of current and adapted to be alternately operated by contacts controlled by the movement of the car as will be presently more fully pointed out. 7 c I The sheathed drums of material are suporte.d one behind the other on the inclined. platform 17 and are held in place by a retaining and releasing trip, comprising a lever 40 provided at its ends with blocks 41 and 42 which are adapted to be alternately raised. This operation is brought about as the car moves, from the forward position indicated in full lines (Fig. 2) to the rearward position indicated in dotted lines in which position it is in alinement with the platform 17. A finger 43 on the rear end of the car engages one arm of an elbow lever 44 moving the same to the dotted line position (Fig. 2) which through the levers 45, 46, 47 and 48 depresses the block 41 releasing the foremost drum, which rolls along the inclined platform to the car, and at the same time the block 42 is raised to retain the other drum. .As the lever 46 is depressed contacts 49 and 50 are closed which operate suitable electromagnetic means to disconnect the electro: magnetic clutch from the pulley311 and thereby stop, the rearward travel of the car.

As the drum rolls into place upon the car, where it is held in the depressions 19 and 20 of the ledges or cleats 19 and 20, it engages a contact lever 51 swinging the same to engage the contact piece 52,

i which through suitable electrical connections operate the electro nragnetic clutch of the pulley 32, and the car thereupon starts its forward travel. As the finger 43 moves out of engagement with the lever 44, the spring 53 connected with the lever 40 returns the trip mechanism to its normal position, the drums moving up so that the foremost one-engages the block 41. The

. fcpntact lever 51 is returned to its normal position by means of a spring 51 As the car moves forwardly a slitting knife 54 securely mounted in a block 55 above the opening 13*, cuts the longitudinal slit a in the sheath, backward motion of the drum being prevented by means of a back stop 56 at the rear end of the car. The small amount of material that may be scraped from the drum by the knifefalls into a chute 57 through which it is carried to a chute 58 which conveys it to the hop per 59.

Toward the end of the forward travel of'the car, a finger 60 engages a lever 61 which through the link 61 and elbow lever 61 operates a rod 62 which sets in operatioii the mechanism hereinafter described for controlling the movement of the drum in the channel 13. This mechanism is preferably disposed in the space indicatedby the dot and dash line 63. At the same time the lever 60 engages a contact member 64 which through 7 suitable electrical connec tions disconnect the 'electjro-1 nagnetic clutch of the pulley 32 stopping the forward travel of the car. A spring 65 serves to return Pitl'tS to their normal position when reeasec.

The channel 13 is closed at its upper side by a cover "66 provided with'a pair of longitudinal slots 67 and 68 and between these slots there are arranged V-sha'ped tracks 67, (38 upon which a yoke member is slidably mounted. This yoke member compr1ses an upper portion 69 having grooves 70 and 71 which engage the tracks, grease cups 72 affording suitable lubrication, and side pieces 73 and 74 which extend downwardly through slots and are adapted to embrace the drum. The side pieces are of inverted 'U-shape, and at the ends of the iegs there are pivoted upon shafts 7 5 pointed extensions 76 free to swing in one direction, that is toward the chute 14 and held rigid in the other direction by stops 77, and which are adapted after unsheathing of the drum to gather up the sheathand convey it to the chute 14 as will be hereinafter more fully described. 7 v

The yoke is propelled by means of a cable 140 extending over the drums 141 and 142, the drum 142 being provided with a suitable adjusting rack and pinion 143. The said drums are mounted respectively upon brackets 144 and 145, the ends of the cable being alternately wound upon spiral grooves141 formed upon the drum 144 in a manner similar to the propelling cable and drums of the car 18. Rotation in either direction is imparted to the drum 141 by means of a pair of oppositely rotating pulleys 146 and 147 mounted upon the shaft ofthe said drum and driven by the belts 148 and 149 from a pulley 150 rovided upon the main drive shaft 36. Electro-magnetic clutches are provided upon the pulleys 146 and 14 7,to alternately connect them to the shaft of thedrum,

these clutches being operated through the controlling mechanism hereinafter more fully described.

' As the car 18 enters the channel 13 the yoke member is in a position to receive the drum, that is, it is at the position indicated by I (Fig. 6 The movement of the yoke member is controlledby the mechanism provided in the space 63 as above pointed out and the details of this mechanism will be presently described. The yoke member first moves the drum into the depressions or recesses 78 of the track 21 and in this position which is illustrated in Fig. 1 the transverse cuts 6 and b are made in the ends of the drum.

Knives 79 and 80 are provided upon the lower end of the bars 81 and 82, provided at their upper ends with rack teeth 83 and 84: and guided in slots 85 and 86 formed by the ways 87 and 88 and frame guides 89 and 90. The bars and the knives carried thereby are adapted to be reciprocated by means of pinions 91 and 92 provided upon the ends of a common shaft 93, and upon which there are mounted a pair of pulleys 9 1 and 95, oppositely driven by belts 96 and 97 extending over apulley 98 provided upon the main driving shaft 36. The pulleys 94; and are each provided with electrounagnetic clutches 99 and 100 adapted to be energized through the controlling mechanism to move the knives upwardly or downwardly. As the knives are moved downwardly from the position shown-in Figs. 1 and 2 the slits b and b are cut'in the drums. Chutes 101 and 102 carry off the small amount of material that may be scraped from the drum during the cutting of the slits.

The yoke member thereupon carries the drum to the depressions or recesses 103 revolving the drum during this movement through an angle of 90 so that the slit Z) is horizontally disposed while the longitudinal slit a is at the bottom of the drum. In this position the vertical axes of the ends of the drum and also the longitudinal slit at are in alinement with the cutting knives 1041 and 105. These knives and their associated parts are identical in construction and operation to the knives 79 and 80 being provided upon the ends of racked bars 106 slidably mounted in guideways 107 and reciprocated by pinions 108 provided upon the ends of a shaft'109. Pulleys 110 and 111 each provided with electro-magnetic clutches are oppositely driven upon the shaft 109 by means of belts, 112 and 113 extending over the pulley 11 1- provided upon the drive shaft 36. As these knives104 and 105 are moved downwardlv they cut the transverse slits c in the ends of the drum, these slits as above pointed out connecting with the longitudinal slit a. The small amount of material that may be scraped from the'drum during the cutting of the slits c and c is ren'ioved through chutes 115, and 115.

The drum is now moved in the channel 13 toward the chute 14 to the position indicated by TV (Fig. 6) engaging depressions 116 provided in the tracks 21 and 22, the said track at this side of the trackway 16 being inclined downwardly toward the said trackway. The ends of the drum are here gripped by jaws 117 and 118 a little to the left of the slits c and c as indicated in Fig. 1, these jaws being mounted upon a shaft 119 adapted to be rotated first in one direction and then in the other by means of oppositely rotating pulleys 120 and 121 provided with electro-magnetic clutches which are operated through the controlling mechanism. These pulleys are driven by means of belts 122 and 123 extending over a pulley 12% provided upon the drive shaft 36. The jaws 117 and 118are guided in slots 125 and 126 in the floor of the channel and right and left screw threads 127 and 128 upon the shaft 119 respectively engage these clutches so that as the said shaft is rotated in one or the other direction the jaws are moved toward or awav from each other thereby gripping and releasing the drum.

. While the jaws are held in gripping relation with the drum the yoke carries the same from the position IV to the position V (Fig. 6 rolling and simultaneously unwrapping the drum of material, the sheath being flattened out as indicated in Fig. 5 while the drum is carried beyond the tracks and 22 and drops into the crusher where it is pulverized, the fragments dronninginto a bin 129 where they are drawn off when desired by means of a car or conveyer through a valve door 130.

j The entrapped air with the dust created by the crushing process enters the dust settling chamber 131 by the passage 132 which is protected from fragments by a shield 133. Here the dust settles out and falls into the screw conveyer 131 which forces it through the conduit 13st into the main dust collecting system where it will usually be added finally to the product of fragmentation. The air is finally screened at 135 and reenters the crusher at 136 through the passage 137, excess air passing out into ,the atmosphere through the passage 138 and the screen 139. After'the drum of material is dropped into the crusher the yoke member moves the full length of the channel 13, the prongs 76 gathering up the rolled out sheath and carrying the same to the chute 14, a nose 151 being provided upon the end of the yoke which engages and opens the swinging door 15. From the chute 1a the sheath is. carried to a baling machine, amelted or other suitable means of disposing of the same. The

yoke thereupon returns from the chute let,

that is the position indicated atVI to its initial position in .alinement with-the track.- way 16 and indicated at VII (Fig. During the rearward travel of the a yoke member the cutting knives are raised to their normal position, and the gripping members are disengaged from the sheath.

The controlling mechanism for bringing about the various operations is shown 11agrammatically in Fig. 6 and its operationisi started to move backwardly, that is, toward the movement of the yoke.

the chute 1 1-. Pressing of the rod 161 in the direction of the arrow starts the yoke forward toward the crusher and pressing of the rod 162 in the direction of the arrow stops These rods are suitably interconnected in the well known ianner by levers (not shown} so that the last rod pressed resets the others.

Upon the upper side of the yoke there is mounted an arm 166, which moves with the yoke along the path indicated .by the dotted line 166. i i

As the rod 62 is raisedby contact of the finger .60 carried by the car, with the lever 6.1,as .above pointed out, it swings a bell crank lever 167 ,drawinga rod 168 guided in a support 168 so that a'beveled block 169 carried at its end rides over and depresses a lever 170, pivoted at 170. The lever 170 is disposed above one end of a lever 171, pivoted M7171? upon the rod 162 and as the said lever 17 O is depressed it raises the other end of the lever 171 out of the path of the arm 166 so thatthe yoke isrfree to move forwardly. As the lever 170 completes its movement it operates, a trip lever 17 2, which througha contactiblock 172 pressesthe rod 161 causing the yoke to start .its forward travel. f I

When the arm 166 reaches the position '11 (Fig. 6) it engages a lever 1741 ,pivotedto the rod 162 at 174; between collars 175 and 17 6,,and which presses the rod 162 forwardly causing the yoke to stop. Atthe same time the lever 17 1, upon beingpressed forwardly, operates a spring pressed contact lever 1177, pivoted at 177, which through suitable electrical connections starts the knives 79 and 80 to. descend. A memher 178 is carried by the knives and toward the end of their descent this engages one end ofthe lever 17 4, lifting the other endout of the path of the arm 166. This member also operates a trip Jlever 179, which througha the drum as above pointed out.

contact block 180 mounted on the rod 161 causes the said rod to be pressed, starting the yoke forwardly again; and as the said member reaches the .end of its downward movement it engages a. contact block 181, which through electrical connections stops the movement of the knives. its the arm 166 reaches the lever 182 (position 111), pivoted upon'the rod 162 at 182 it presses it forwardly stopping the movement of the yoke, and also presses the spring contact l ver 183,p,ivo.ted at 183 actuating the oper-., ating mechanism of the knives 10 1 and 105, so that they descend making the slits c in ends 'of-the drum at right angles tothe slits Z). The knives carry a member 18%, which as they approach the end of their descent engages one .end of the lever7182 raising the other .endfout of the path of the arm 166, and also engages, a trip lever 185, which through a stop 1,8,6 presses the rod 160 forwardly, which starts theyoke to move rearwardly toward the position IV (Fig. 6 The levers 1 4 and 171 and also a lever 187, pivoted at 187, which will be presently de scribed, are held raised so that there is no obstruction in the pathof the said arm 166; As the arm reaches the position IV it engages a lever 188, pivoted at 188 and slidable longitudinally of the apparatus, which through a lever 189, pivoted at 189 and connected to the rod 162 at 1891 presses the said rod forwardly stopping the yoke. It also operates a spring contact lever 190, pivoted at 190", which through suitable electro- 100 magnetic connections starts the mechanism for moving the gripping jaws 117 and 118 into gripping relation withthe ends of the drum. As the jaws move: inwardly they cause, through suitable connections (not 105 shown), a member 191 to descend and which first engages the end of the lever 18S lifting the other end out of the path of the arm 166 andthereupon operates a trip lever 192, which through a stop 193 pressesthe rod 110 161 forwardly, thereby starting the yoke to move forwardly, unwinding the sheath from a ment .of themember 191 witha stop 1% stops themovement ofthe grippingmem- .bers. V, o

Thellevers 187,171,174: and 182 being 7 raised out of the path of the arm1166, the yoke continues its forward movement to the position V, atavliicli position the unsheathed 1 .drum is dropped into the crushing and pulverizing apparatus At this position the .arm 166engages a'lever 195, pivoted at 195,

which upon being swung forwardly, engages a stop 196011 the rod 160 pressing the said rod forwardly.andthereby causing the ,yoke to moverearwardly. The lever is connectedat itsendto therod 1.63. and reciprocates the same forwardly,.-moving a beveled block 197. which normally is disposed be 1 neath the lever 187 to hold the same raised from beneath the said block so that it drops across the path of the arm 166, and also a stop 198 provided at the end of the rod 163 is moved into engagement with the end of a spring pressed lever 199, pivoted at 199, and which at its other end engages a stop 200 provided upon the rod 161.

As the yoke moves toward position VI the arm 166 engages the lever 187. This lever is jointed at 187*, springs 187 permitting it to swing laterally in either direction, and as the said arm 166 swings the end of the lever, the lever contacts with a member 201, which through a train of linkages (not shown) starts the knives rising, the car returning, and the gripping jaws opening, the respective levers 182 and 17 1 and 171 dropping into the path of the lever 166. The swinging of the jointed end of the lever 187, how ever, reciprocates a rod 202 so that a beveled block 208 at its end moved beneath the lever 188 holding it raised out of the path of the arm 166, and a block 204 carried at the end of a rod 205 connected to the rod 202 is moved into engagement with the lever 171.

As the yoke moves from position V to po'-, sition VI the sheath is gathered up, as above pointed out, and dropped into the chute 14: and at the position VI the arm 166 engages the lever 199, which through the block 198 moves the block 197 beneath the lever 187, raising it out of the path of the said arm 166. The end of the lever 199 engaging the stop 200 presses the rod 161 forwardly, which starts the yoke to move forwardly, the spring 199 of the lever 199 returning it to its normal position. As the yoke reaches position VII it engages the lever 171 pressing the rod 162 forwardly and stopping the movement of the yoke, making contact with contact block 206, which through suitable electro-magnetic connections causes car 18 to return to the position shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 2, and through the stop 204:, the block 203 is moved from beneath the lever 188 which thereupon drops into the path of the arm 166.

As the car reaches its rearward position in alinement with the receiving platform 1! the lever 44: is'operated as before described, releasing a new drum and the cycle of operations is repeated. Instead of electromagnetic controlling means I propose also in certain instances to employ compressed air operated means, mechanical levers, or in fact any suitable means best adapted to the particular apparatus. plants it may be impracticable to use electrically operated means, in view of the clan er to be anticipated from sparks, explosions, etc. In the case of compressed air operated clutches it would only be necessary to substitute valves for the contacts shown in. the embodiment. illustrated, For

In certain chemical the sake of simplicity I have not deemed it necessary to illustrate these alternative iorms, but it will be understood that they are contemplated in my invention.

I have illustrated and described a preferred and satisfactory embodiment of my invention but it is obvious that changes may be made therein within the spirit and scope thereof, as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a machine of the character described for removing the sheath from a sheathed mass of material, slitting means, means for supporting said sheathed mass, said slittin means adapted to engage said sheath, anc means adapted to produce relative movement of one of said means with respect to the other means to cause said slitting means to slit said sheath longitudinally along its side to permit of bodily removal of said sheath from said mass.

2. In a machine of the character described for removing the sheath from a sheathed mass of material, slitting means, means for supporting said sheathed mass, said "slitting means adapted to engage said sheath, one of said means adapted to have relative movement with respect to the other means to cause said slitting means to slit said sheath longitudinally along its sides, and means adapted to remove said sheath from the sides and ends of said mass of'material after slitting.

3. In a machine of the character described for removing the sheath from a sheathed drum of material, means for supporting said drum, slitting means adapted to slit said drum longitudinally, and slitting means adapted to form slits in the ends of said drum, said slits being continuous with said longitudinal slit.

l. In a machine of the character described for removing the sheath from a sheathed drum of material, means for supporting said drum, slitting means adapted to slit said drum longitudinally, slitting means adapted to form slits in the ends of said drum substantially at right angles to a plane coincident to the longitudinal axis of said drum and said longitudinal slit, and slitting means adapted to form slits in the ends of said drum substantially 'at right angles to said other end slits, said last mentioned slits being continuous with said longitudinal slit.

5. In a machine of the character described for removing the sheath froma sheathed drum of material, means for supporting said drum, slitting means adapted to slit said drum longitudinally, slitting means adapted to form slits in the ends of said drum substantially at right angles to a plane coincident to the longitudinal axis of said drum and said longitudinal slit, and slitting nal slit to enable said drum of material to be rolled from said sheath.

6. In a machine of the character described for removing the sheath from a sheathed drum of material, a carrier adapted to receivesaid sheathed drum, means for propelling said carrier, stationary slitting means disposed in the path of said drum and adapted to slit said drum longitudinally as said drum is moved relatively thereto, and slitting means adapted to form slits in the ends of said drum, said slits being continuous with said longitudinal slit. 20"

7. In a machine of the character described 'for removing the sheath from a sheathed drum of material, a tracl'rway, a carrier mounted thereon, means for propelling said carrier to and fro along said trackway, means at one end of said trackway' adapted to successively supply drums of material to said carrier as said carrier reaches said end of said platform, stationary slitting means disposed in the path of said drum and adapted to slit said drum longitudinally as said drumis moved relatively thereto, said slitting means adapted to form slits in the ends of the drum, said slits being continuous with said longitudinal slit. J

8-. In a machine of the character described for removing the sheath from a sheathed drum of material, a trackway, a carrier mounted thereon and adapted toreceive said sheathed drum, propelling means adapted to propel said carrier to and" fro along said trackway, said drum being disposed upon said carrier longitudinally of its direction of travel, stationary slitting means disposed in the path of said drum and adapted to slit said drum longitudinally as said drum is moved relatively thereto, a transverse trackway at one end of said first mentioned trackway, propelling means movable along said transverse trackway, adapted to propel said drum along said. transverse trackway,

and slitt ng. means disposed relatively to said transverse trackway and adapted to form SllllSdIl the ends ofsai'd drum, said slits being continuous with said lohgitudi nal' slit.

9. In a machine of the character described for removing the sheathifrom a sheathed drum of -material, a trackway, a' carrier mounted thereon and adapted toireceive said slit-said drum longitudinally as said drum is moved relatively thereto, a transverse trackway at one end of said first'mentioned trackway, means movable along said transverse trackway, adapter to roll said drum along said transverse traekway to predetermined positions, slitting means disposed relatively to said predetermined positions and adapted to form slits in the ends of said drum as said drum is moved into said predetermined positions, said slitsbeing continuous with said longitudinal slit.

10. In a machine of the character described for removing the sheath from a sheathed drum of material, a trackway, a carrier mounted thereon and adapted to receive said sheathed drum, propelling means adapted to propel said carrier to and fro along said trackway, said drum being disposed upon said carrier longitudinally of its direction of travel, stationary slitting means disposed in the path of said drum and adapted to slit said drum longitudinally as said driun is moved relatively thereto, a.

transverse trackway at one end of said first mentioned tracki'vay, meansmovable along said transverse trackway, adapted to roll said drum along said transverse trackway to spaced predetermined positions, said longitudinal slit in one of said predetermined positions being in the vertical plane passing through the axis of said drum, said slits being continuous with said longitudinal slit. g

11. In a machine of the character described for removing the sheath from a sheathed dru n'or material, a trackway, a carrier mounted thereon and adapted to receive said sheathed drum, propelling means adapted to propel .said carrijer to and fro along said trackway, said drum being disposed upon said carrier longitudinally of its direction of travel, stationary slitting means disposedin the pathoi'said drum and adapted to slit sa1d drum longitudinallythereto, a transverse trackwa'y at one end of said first mentioned trackway, means movable along sa1d tansverse track-way, adapted to roll said drum along said transverse trackway to predetermined positions,

slitting means disposed relatively to said predetermined positions and adapted to form slits in the ends of said drum as said drum is moved into said predetermined positions, said slits being continuous with said longitudinal slit, means disposed relatively to said transversetrackway adapted to grip the ends of said drum, alter slitting, atone side of said longitudinal slit, said propelling means adapted to roll said drum of material from said sheath. 12.111 a machine oi the character described for removing the sheath from a sheathed drum of material, a: trackway, a carrier mounted thereon and adapted to re ceive said sheathed drum, propelling means adapted to propel said carrier to and fro along said trackway, said drum being disposed upon said carrier its direction of travel, stationary slitting means disposed in the path of said drum and adapted to slit said drum longitudinally as said. drum is moved relatively thereto, a

' transverse trackway at one end of said first mentioned traclnvay, means movable along said. transverse trackwa'y, adapted to roll said drum along said transverse trackway to predetermined positions, slitting means disposed relatively to said predetegmined positions and adapted to form slits in the ends of said drum as said drum is moved into said predetermined positions, said slits being continuous with said longitudinal slit, means disposed relatively to said transverse trackway adapted to grip the ends of said drum, after slitting, at one side of said longitudinal slit, said propelling means aflilDtcfl to roll said drum of material from said sheath, rolling out said sheath, means carried by said propelling means adapted upon return movement to gather up said rolled out sheath, and means adapted to re ceive said gathered up sheath.

13. In a machine of the character described for removing the sheath from a sheathed drum of material, supply means adapted to successively supply individual sheathed masses of material, conveying means adapted to convey said sheathed masses of material, slitting means adapted to slit said sheath, removal means adapted to remove said mass of material from said sheath after slitting, receiving means for receiving said unsheathed mass of material and automatic means adapted to be operated by the movement of said conveying means and adapted to control the operation of said supply means, said slitting means, and said removal means.

lei. In a machine or the character described for removing the sheath from a sheathed mass of material, supply means adapted to successively supply individual sheathed masses of material, conveying means adapted to convey said sheathed masses of material, slitting means adapted to slit said sheath, removal means adapted to remove said mass of material from said sheath after slitting, receiving means for receiving said unsheathed mass of material longitudinally or and automatic means adapted to be operated by the movement of said conveying means and adapted to control the operation of said supply means, said slitting means, and said removal means, and means adapted to be operated upon the return of said conveying means to its original position to set said automatic means in operation to continuously repeat said cycle of operations.

15. In a machine of the character described for removing the sheath from a sheathed drum of material, supply means adapted to successively supply individual sheathed drums ofmaterial, a trackway, a carrier adapted to receive said sheathed drums of material, means for propelling said carrier to and fro along said trackway, said drums being disposed upon said carrier longitudinally of its direction of travel, stationary slitting means disposed in the path of said drum upon said carrier and adapted to slit said drum longitudinally as said drum is moved relatively thereto, a transverse trackvvay at one end of said first mentioned traclrway, propelling means movable along said transverse trackvvay,

slitting means disposed relatively to said transverse trackway and adapted to form slits in the ends of said drum, said slits being continuous With said longitudinal slit, gripping means adapted to grip said sheath after slitting, said drum of material adapted to be removed from said sheath by movement of said propelling means relatively to said gripping means, automatic means adapted to be operated as said carrier reaches one end of its path of travel to control the operation of said supply means to supply said sheathed drums to said carrier, and automatic means adapted to control the movement of said propelling means, said slitting means for slitting the ends of said sheathed drum, and said gripping means, and adapted to be set in operation as said carrier reaches the other end of its path of travel, the operation or" said supply means adapted to start said carrier in one direction of travel, the last operation of said last mentioned automatic means adapted to start said carrier in the other direction of said carrier.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as.

my invention I have signed my name here- 

